Jonny Lang

HOB, Anaheim
The Coach House

So now I've seen Mr. Lang a total of three times, all at the House of Blues ... one of those rare occasions where it's moniker actually fits the bill. The first time I saw him was actually the first time I ever went to the HOB. Standing in the back that night, I had no idea of where that night was going to lead me. And while it wasn't his best performance, with the help of his opening act that night, Sue Foley, the show was a major factor in my decision to actually start playing myself and ended up being a kick-start for my now confirmed obsession with live music. 

Jonny's second show was an odd one for me, having been stood up for the night and drinking myself a little less upset, depressed and angry upstairs at the outside bar prior to the show. Hooking up with a cute little gal who danced with me on the floor before dumping me (twice in the same night, heh), made it a little better I suppose. The show itself was pretty much the same as the first one. No real big surprises. 

The third show was the kicker. Got in early, got up front, stayed completely sober and stood two rows back from Mr. Lang's stage. All I can really say is that it was one of those rare treats to be that close and see him play and sing. Jonny has progressed in the last few years with the guitar and plays more confidently than he did the first time I saw him. His singing remains fantastic and it amazes me still how a skinny white boy can sing like that. It's totally incredible. 

All three shows sported the same band members, consisting of another guitarist, a bass player, drummer, and a percussionist / guitarist / sax player. Each of the shows also featured Jonny and the sax player in a sort of dueling banjos kind of showdown .... it's somewhat entertaining, but they do tend to draw it out a little longer than necessary, and they both have such better ways of expressing their talent than by doing that. 'Nuff said on that. 

Jonny has quite a collection of beautiful, and I do mean beautiful, guitars ... most notably a sexy little orange Telecaster ... mmm mmm. The sound and lighting are also way above par and short of KMFDM or Mudvayne (go figure) they're about the best I've seen there at the HOB. I will only make one other comment here aside from encouraging you to go see Jonny at any cost, and that is the crowd in the pit on that third performance was the most ill-behaved bunch of morons I've ever encountered. I've seen more love at a Static-X concert where people are wailing on each other. Not that there was any physical violence mind you, but I've rarely come across such an uptight, stick-up-their-ass crowd than those bozos. 'Nuff said. If you can stand the crowd and don't mind sharing some space with fellow music lovers, go check out Jonny the next time he's around. If you don't like being crowded, stay home and let others enjoy the show instead.

The Latest in 05
Saw Jonny at an all accoustic performance at the Coach House. It actually ended up being one of the best shows of his I've seen. He's progressed so much on the guitar these last few years, he's getting almost as good on it as his voice has always been. Sitting down for most of the night and singing and playing rather softly compared to his other shows, he showed a real talent for playing that way. His soulfulness still came through and well, well damn I just plain enjoyed the hell out of my self. He's gonna be around again later in 05 with the same tour. You can bet I'm gonna be at that show too. You should be too.

Jonny's website can be reached here.